Approval of Previous Minutes —

Minutes from August 26,2025 SenEx Meeting:

A question arose regarding Competency Based Education from the Aug 26 minutes since they specified that CBE courses pertained to “graduate” programs only. While the minutes seem accurate as to what was said at the meeting and therefore recorded correctly, Brendan is aware of a professional program that has been approved for CBE in the School of Professional Studies that is not specific to only graduate degrees. 

Shayla mentions she will double-check with the University Registrar and get clarification. 

Motion to approve the minutes as stated with the notion that Shayla will get clarification on the CBE policy and if it relates only to graduate programs, or both graduate and undergraduate. Brendan Mattingly motions to approve. Glenda McKeithan seconds. Minutes approved. 

 *Follow up note on minutes: Casey Wallace, University Registrar, shared that right now CBE is specific to graduate programs. Casey assumes undergraduate programs will come but discussions have not yet begun, so it would likely be at least 3 years from offering CBE at the undergraduate level. 

Student Senate Report

• Student Senate had first set of student council meetings last week. Things are going well so far with a high turnout for the start of the year.
• Tomorrow (Sept 10) is the first Student Assembly meeting.
• The first-year elections cycle started last week. First-year students are able to register to run for elections up until Thursday. 

Staff Senate Report

• Marissa meets with Provost on Sept 19th and plans to discuss the Docking Institute Survey, the Jayhawks Elevate initiative, Wellness Week, and employee morale.
• Staff Senate has established an ad hoc committee to review the results from the Docking Institute Survey.
• Marissa is working with HR and Jeff Chasen to establish a governance service award.
• Chancellor and Provost have approved standing charges for Public Relations, Personnel Affairs, Elections, and Professional Development Committees. Waiting to hear back about the Technology Committee. 

Faculty Senate Report

• Brendan gives an overview of what was discussed at the Faculty Senate the previous week, primarily the KBOR Workload Policy.
• KBOR reached out to Faculty Senate to get their input on changes to this policy.
• Faculty Senate thanked KBOR for asking their input. They realize that it’s KBOR’s policy but wanted to give feedback. 

University Senate Report

• Plan to reach out to potential committee members for the Ombuds Search. Poppy will check in with Jessica.
• University Senate passed the grading policy for CBE courses and grade replacement policy. These are currently in the 21-day review period.
• Some amendments may be coming to the USRR Article 9 regarding misconduct. 

New Business —

Article VI Amendment: 

University Senate Executive Committee Structure and Function:

• Change to “Vice President” in place of “President” for Student Senate -- so the Student Senate Vice President may serve as ex-officio, non-voting member of SenEx if they are not among the elected SenEx members.
• Motion to amend the policy so it says Vice President in place of President for Student Senate using the second version the committee reviewed: Jessica Chilcoat motions to amend. Larry Morriss seconds the motions. Motion approved. 

Changes to the Student Senate Constitution: 

• The Constitution of the KU Student Senate hasn’t been amended in almost ten years.
• Jessica Chilcoat asks the student representatives if there is anything that SenEx should consider prior to voting on this.
• Casey Soper mentions the Constitution Revisions Committee, which Casey sat on, worked very hard on these revisions last spring. While there likely will be changes down the road, Casey thinks it’s a great starting point and the Constitution is clearer with less contradiction.
• Brendan Mattingly notes that the School of Professional Studies is not represented on the list of schools that has Student Senate representation.
• The School of Professional Studies didn’t exist ten years ago so that’s likely why there isn’t a student senator representing this school. Casey plans to draft legislation for the School of Professional Studies to be added.
• After discussion, SenEx will postpone voting on the amendments to the Student Senate Constitution since there are additional changes that Student Senate plans to make after today’s discussion. 

Meeting adjourned.